Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller - OPTIONAL

Ruin of Stars (Mask of Shadows #2) by Linsey Miller, 416 pages.  Sourcebooks Fire, 2018.  $18

Language: PG-13 (16 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG; Violence: R (blood and torture)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

As the Queen’s Opal, an assassin, Sallot Leon has to do many distasteful things.  Sal is focused on identifying and permanently removing the Erland nobles who are responsible for the deaths of every inhabitant of Nacea, Sal’s homeland. But when Sal’s old friend Rath comes to them for help, Sal must choose who commands the most of their loyalty – family or Queen.  Sal thinks the choice is made, but new details of further betrayal and deeper plots bring Sal’s promise into alignment and give them a chance to strike a final blow against all their enemies.

Magic takes a bigger stage in the second book of this duology.  The beginning is a bit confusing if it’s been a couple of years since you read Mask of Shadows (like me).  But once you settle in, the adventure is definitely worth it.  It is quite bloody, though.  Sal’s character is gender fluid –this is almost a non-issue within the scope of the book, except that others keep trying to identify them as female, but they refuse to be pigeon-holed.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Between the Water and the Woods by Simone Snaith - ADVISABLE

Between the Water and the Woods by Simone Snaith, illustrated by Sara Kipin, 310 pages.  $19.  

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When her little brother Dale breaks the rules and go into the woods, Emmaline and Dale both see a menacing figure there – an Ithin.  Now they are on their way to the capitol with a small group, because the law of the kingdom is that if you see Ithin, you must report it to the king in person. Along the way they meet a magister and a Lash Knight – the magister is not only anti-magic, but also the King’s heir apparent, but circumstances bring the Lash Knight to Emmaline’s side. When the balance of power seems to be against believing in magic, there may be those willing to silence any proof – by any means necessary.

Amongst the magic and danger, there is a sweet little romantic part to the story.  The adventure bits appear in timely fashion. School with large fantasy circulation will want to add this.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fantastic Failures by Luke Reynolds - ADVISABLE

Fantastic Failures: True Stories of People Who Changed the World by Falling Down First by Luke Reynolds, 278 pages. NON-FICTION. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2018. $21.99

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Reynolds reintroduces readers to people famous for their successes by reframing them and showing readers that success is not usually easy. By expanding on the hardships that these individuals had to overcome before given acclaim, Reynolds emphasizes how we, too, can accomplish great things by growing from our failures.

The genuine love and encouragement from Reynolds to his readers can be felt in every chapter. Reynolds wants us to be inspired, to be persistent, to apply these lessons of failure to our own lives, and to learn from the experiences of others—from their failures and their successes. While I felt that the chapters became somewhat repetitive, I have enjoyed learning about a side of inspirational individuals that I can relate to.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Shadowscent by P. M. Freestone - ADVISABLE

The Darkest Blood (Shadowscent #1) by P. M. Freestone, 368 pages. Scholastic Press, November 2019.  $19.

Language: PG-13 (29 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (some blood)

BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In a desperate gamble to help her Father survive the Rot, Rakel makes a bid to become an apprentice to a chief perfumer.  Upon her loss, her indenture contract is purchased by the Scent Keeper of Aphoria, the perfumer of the kingdom who acts as a conduit to the gods.  When the Scent Keeper is killed and heir to the Empire is poisoned, Rakel is the prime suspect.  Now she is on the run with Ash, the heir’s Shield, in a desperate gamble to solve an ancient riddle, save the Prince, and clear Rakel’s name. Their flight will take them to every corner of the empire – through dangers great and small, even of the heart.

Another YA Lit unicorn – a stand alone fantasy novel!  A complete, whole tale told within the pages of one book, without a mysterious or not-so-mysterious epilogue hinting at more things to come.  Stand alones are always great to have and Freestone has crafted a world with two strong lead characters who have an adventure full of danger which is not focused on either exploring their romance in depth, nor on killing as many people as possible in increasingly violent ways.  Sorry – YA fantasy pet peeves on display there.  For a breath of fresh air, buy this for your students.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker - OPTIONAL

The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker, 334 pages. Annick Press, 2018. $19.

Language: R (30 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: R.

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

17yo Lena is trapped in the confusing world of East Germany in 1983, a place where she has to keep her true thoughts hidden and pretend to believe the lies and propaganda of the government. Sometimes she has trouble keeping straight the truth and the lies. Four years earlier, she lost both parents in a tragic “accident” that she is beginning to see may not have been an accident at all. The accident left her traumatized and her only living relatives are her dad’s brother and sister. After a prolonged stay in a mental institution she is sent to live with her widowed aunt, a stalwart Socialist party member who gets Lena a job as a janitor at Stasi headquarters. Her uncle, who is the only one who makes her feel safe, is arrested by the Stasi police and everyone pretends he never existed at all. This event leads Lena to stop pretending everything is okay and to start investigating his disappearance and what he did to get arrested. Her investigation leads her down a dangerous path as she tries to outsmart those who have eyes everywhere.

The premise of this book was engaging and I enjoyed how the author created tension and frustration for the reader to mimic the uncertainty and fear faced by those living under the extreme surveillance and rigid rules of East Germany. The sense of foreboding, fear, and suspicion about every situation and individual, even including family members, was a powerful component of the novel. However, I had some issues with some elements of the book. The main character’s voice made her sound much younger than she actually was, which I felt would make it difficult for the intended age group to relate to. Not only that, but Lena repeatedly made illogical and foolhardy choices in spite of having grown up in East Germany and having been warned against it multiple times. Lena was overall a pretty difficult character to become invested in, even after she makes some heroic choices and after you understand that she has developed coping mechanisms for serious trauma in her life. The plot was interesting, but it took about 60 pages before I wanted to keep reading and then I was halfway through before I really kept turning the pages to unravel the mystery. The “R” ratings were for multiple descriptions of sexual abuse. 

Reviewer: Marinda

What is Poetry? by Michael Rosen - OPTIONAL

What is Poetry? The Essential Guide to Reading and Writing Poems by Michael Rosen, 186 pages. NON-FICTION. Candlewick Press, 2016. $15.99

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Rosen offers tips and tricks for reading and writing poems based on his experience in doing both. I enjoyed reading Rosen’s enthusiasm for poetry in these pages, and the new ideas have given my mind lots of new poetry techniques to try myself. While this may not be page-turner, this book is full of good information that I’m happy to have read.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

President of Poplar Lane by Margaret Mincks - ADVISABLE

President of Poplar Lane by Margaret Mincks, 279 pages. Viking (Penguin Random House), 2019. $17.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (periods mentioned); Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The kids from Poplar Lane are back! It's the start of 7th grade and both Clover and Mike are running for class president. Mike is being managed by Peter - who is also helping him improve his magician image, and Clover's campaign manager is her best friend Rachel. But Rachel has a new friend, Abigail, the new girl at school, and when Clover doesn't ask for her help with the election, Abigail decides to work for Mike. Wait . . . Clover likes Mike! 

Oh, so funny! I love this neighborhood of kids and I'm so glad to see this sequel! Great messages - taking charge of your own decisions, girl power (but what about the boys) making friends, being your best self . . . Would certainly work on its own, but get Payback on Poplar Lane, too. 

Lisa Librarian

When Plants Attack by Rebecca E. Hirsch - ESSENTIAL

When Plants Attack : Strange and Terrifying Plants by Rebecca E. Hirsch, NON FICTION. Millbrook Press (Lerner Imprints), 2019. $32.. 9781541526709

Violence: PG (Descriptions of the demise of bugs and animals).

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Plants have way of surviving. Whether they live in inhospitable soil and have to catch their own food, like the venus fly trap, or they need to protect themselves from being eaten like the stinging tree, these plants have developed traits 

Kinda gross, and very interesting, the full color captioned photographs show the plants up close and personal. We see the scientific process in action as specialists test why the plants do what they do. The text is accessible and short - about 3 pages per plant including side bars identifying the scientific name, alias what they do and where they can be found. Includes author's note, sources, a glossary, bibliography and "more to explore". 

Lisa Librarian

We were Beautiful by Heather Hepler - ADVISABLE

We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler, 283 pages. Blink, 2019. $12.99

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol consumption); Violence: PG13 (child abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Mia’s family has fallen apart, and she doesn’t know what can be done to fix it. Living with a grandmother she has never met for a few weeks isn’t ideal, but Mia’s father insists that it’s for the best. With the irreversible past following her, can Mia find a future?

Tragedy is part of life, though it may come in many different forms for each of us, and, as readers work through Mia’s pain with her, we see that we all have scars. How we got those scars may always affect our lives, but we get to choose how those scars—if those scars—change our future. I loved reading about the healing and forgiveness that does come with time.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Reach Higher by Amanda Lucidon - ESSENTIAL

Reach Higher : An inspiring Photo Celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama by Amanda Lucidon, PICTURE BOOK. Crown Books for Young Readers (Random House), 2018. $20. 9780525644002

Content: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Former official White House Photographer Amanda Lucidon has compiled an amazing collections of photographs documenting the First Lady's time in the White House and beyond. We see official pictures of Michelle Obama as she welcomes people into her home, plays with dignitaries (and her dogs), hosts Girl Scouts on the lawn, grows a garden and acts as an important role model for girls and women all over the world. 

Lucidon is a talented photographer. She has captured the First Lady's spirit and initiatives perfectly. An uplifting and inspirational collection, I found myself crying - often. She has provided an amazing legacy.

Lisa Librarian

The Whispers by Greg Howard - OPTIONAL

The Whispers by Greg Howard, 229 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2019. $17.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Riley loved the stories his mother told him of The Whispers; mythical creatures who lived in the forest, came out at sunset and granted wishes. More than anything Riley wants to find his mother and to stop wetting the bed. He also wants his dad to love him again. We go with Riley on his quest to find the Whispers and to have his wishes granted. He brings tributes to The Whispers when he goes on his quest to find his mother. Riley is keeping a secret and he thinks his mother knows and that is why she is gone.          

We go with Riley on his quest and get a glimpse into how tormented he feels. Riley has some good friends and his best friend and his dog goes with him into forest at night to find the Whispers, and hopefully his mom. 

This is a good story about self discovery and doing hard things even if you are scared and frightened.  

Ellen-Anita, Librarian

Gloria Takes a Stand by Jessica M. Rinker - ADVISABLE

Gloria Takes a Stand: How Gloria Steinem Listened, Wrote, and Changed the World by Jessica M. Rinker, illustrated by Daria Peoples-Riley. PICTURE BOOK/BIOGRAPHY. Bloomsbury, 2019. $18. 9781681196763

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Even as a little girl, Gloria Steinem knew what she wanted and wasn't going to do things any other way. From attending college when most women weren't allowed, to being a driving force in the women's libration movement, Steinem stood up for what she believed, and spoke out. She believed women and people of color should be "linked not ranked," she started Ms. Magazine and spoke all over about making life more fair for everyone. She listened, she acted, things changed. 

Steinem is an icon, and this picture book biography succinctly covers her life and influence. Her example teaches that it's OK to stand up for yourself and others, and when you see an injustice, do something about it. Includes an author's and illustrator's notes, photographs of Steinem, a timeline of important events in US Women's History and a bibliography.

Lisa Librarian

Song For a Whale by Lynne Kelly - ESSENTIAL

Song For a Whale by Lynne Kelly, 292 pages. Random House, 2019. $8.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS  - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Iris, 12yo, lives in Houston with her mom, dad and brother. Being deaf has never stopped her from doing what she wants. Iris is great at fixing electronics and she loves old radios. One day in class her science teacher shows a video of a whale called Blue 55. He is lonely because he could not communicate with other whales. Iris makes it her mission to learn all she can about Blue 55 and to find a way to communicate with him. She feels a special connection to this whale since they both have a hard time being understood by the ones around them. The story takes Iris, and her deaf grandmother, on a cross-country expedition to find Blue 55 so Iris can play her song for the whale.       

This is a heartwarming story of Iris, her grandmother and the whale. It gave me a glimpse into Iris' life and an understanding for what it would be like to be deaf. Iris never used her deafness stop her from doing what she believed in. She is talented, bright and inquisitive. She fixes radios even though she cannot hear them. She feels vibrations through her hands! She can tell if the sounds are clear or scurry and she makes adjustments until the sound is clear. I loved this book. The characters are believable and the story captivated me. I could not put the book down.            

Ellen-Anita, Librarian                       

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare - OPTIONAL

Queen of Air and Darkness (Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare, 880 pages.  Margaret K. Elderry (Simon and Schuster), 2018.  $25.  

Content: Language: R (31 swears; 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Emma and Julian are trying to keep it together after the death of Livy Blackthorn.  Julian has decided that he can’t deal with his emotions and has a spell placed on himself in which he doesn’t have to feel anything, but it makes Julian’s siblings and Emma feel lost.  Also, the Clave is divided by the new leader and the Shadowhunters who believe in his prejudice ways.  In typical fashion, the Blackthorns and their friends band together to bring the world of magic together and fight for what is right.  

This is a colossal size book, so obviously more than what I have described is in the story, including another dimension and the re-incarnated Annabelle.  The main theme running throughout is the love and respect that the characters have for each other and what constitutes family.  I thought this was the last book, but at the end there is an Epilogue that sets up more for either a spin-off or a sequel.  There are times when the story needed a good edit as it felt long and drawn out.  The content includes heavy make-out sessions, bloody war violence and one of the relationships develops into a threesome.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan - ESSENTIAL

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan, 368 pages. Bloomsbury, 2019. $19. 

Language: PG-13 (11 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG ; Violence: G;

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends attending a New York City high school dedicated to the arts and social justice. In fact, each student is required to be in an after school social justice club. Jasmine has been in the August Wilson Acting Ensemble for the past two years, but when the teacher won’t let her escape the stereotypical roles for a black overweight female, she convinces Chelsea to quit the poetry club (which isn’t hard since for the past 2 years they never got to poetry written past the 70s) and form a women’s rights club, as “art-ivists”. Together with their friends Nadine and Isaac, they fight against sexism using their artistic talents, learning both productive and counterproductive ways to do so. 

I started out this book, not really sure if there are girls that are this into activism. It felt overly feministic. But about 50 pages in I was hooked. Jasmine and Chelsea alternate chapters as the narrators and you really get to know them, their friends, love interests, talents, and family troubles. This book brings something that is missing a lot in education, combining arts with social justice issues, and allowing students to think for themselves. Not only was this a great guide to being an activist, but it references real people, both common names like Maya Angelou, and less well-known people like Natalie Diaz. 

Reviewer: J. Rosskopf

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare - ADVISABLE

Lord of Shadows (Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare, 699 pages.  Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon and Schuster), 2017.  $25.  

Content: Language: PG-13 (17 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Emma and Julian are reeling from the betrayal of Malcolm and the consequences of their feelings for each other.  Since Emma and Julian have a forbidden love, Emma is pretending to date Julian’s brother, Mark, so that Julian will hopefully move on.  Also Julian is trying to protect his siblings from the evil that Malcolm unleashed when he brought Annabelle back from the dead, while at the same time trying to get the Black Volume of the Dead from Annabelle.  On top of all of their problems, there is racial tension among the larger community of Shadowhunters, nephalim and the seelie court.  Tensions rise in this second book of the series.  

I enjoy reading about the lives of the characters in this series and care that they succeed and are happy.  I like the arching story line between books, but feel as though this book had repetitive parts and could have been about half the length, without all the relationship drama.  That said, I will continue to read to find out what happens to everyone and hope that it has a satisfying ending in the third book.  The content includes gruesome violence and heavy make-out sessions.  The only complaint I have about this series is that it’s confusing unless you have read the whole Mortal Instruments series, but if you have, this is essential.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson 

Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson - OPTIONAL

Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson, 447 pages. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019. $19. 

Language: R (90 swears, 8 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13;

BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

16yo Somalian Abdi's home city, Mogadishu, has been torn apart by violence involving the militant group Al Shabaab. Abdi keeps his head down after his brother is kidnapped by the Al Shabaab until a few years later when Abdi’s entire family is abducted by the CIA and Abdi is manipulated into working as a spy in Al Shabaab in order to free his family. All Abdi wants is to save his family and to do the right thing, but he is subject to intense indoctrination and is used as a pawn in the plans of powerful men. Abdi ends up in Kenya alone, psychologically traumatized, and with two missing fingers. It takes a UN social worker and refugee girls like himself to help Abdi reveal the whole story of his time with the Al Shabaab and to help him begin to face his trauma and guilt.

Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. The story switches between two main time periods: “then” when Abdi is still in Somalia and “now” when Abdi is in Kenya. This switch was never confusing and only added to the mystery of his story. While it was obvious that Abdi somehow gets away from the Al Shabaab alive, the details were intriguing and kept me reading to find out exactly what happened and how he got out. Abdi’s character also felt like an accurate portrayal of someone who has been traumatized. While Abdi’s motives were good, he was a realistically fallible character. A highlight of the book was reading from Abdi’s perspective since his inner world felt authentic. My only complaint about the book was that the twist at the end before everything was resolved was too unbelievable. Everything else in the book felt realistic and intriguing and so the ending was a bit of a let down after an overall great read. The PG13 ratings were primarily due to the violent subject matter: the book is about terrorist violence, but it is not described in vivid detail. 

Reviewer: Marinda

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston - ESSENTIAL

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston, 372 pages. Penguin Random House, 2017. $18.

Language: PG (14 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (Passionate kissing, mention of brothels); Violence: PG13 (Gladiator violence - graphic killing). 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Fallon is the daughter of a king - a king who was captured, then released by Julius Caesar. Fallon's sister was lost in the battle and now Fallon wants to be a warrior herself, to follow in her sister's footsteps and possibly avenge her. But when Fallon is kidnapped and sold into Rome as a slave, her priorities shift from Warrior to Gladiator, and she begins to fight for her very life. 

What an exciting story! The level of violence was just right, graphic enough to get a feel for the Arena and the bloodlust, but not so much that it becomes inappropriate for a younger reader. Fallon is brave and gutsy, a great example of a strong woman. The romance is nice, too. I hope this is not a stand alone, because I'd love to return to ancient Rome with Fallon.

Lisa Librarian

The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan - OPTIONAL

The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan, 288 pages.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019.  $18.    

Content: Language: R (70 swears; 6 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG.  

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Willa and Flor are best friends and Willa and Zach are best friends, so when Flor and Zach break up, Willa is caught in the middle.  To make matters more complicated, Willa has had feelings for Zach for a long time and come to find out Zach has had the same romantic feelings for Willa.  Flor has her own hardships at home when her dad starts dating a younger woman and lets her move in with them.  Flor finds herself confiding in her nerdy, but hot tutor, Grayson.  

Secrets, romance and friendship make this a fast fun read.  I enjoyed all the characters, but I think the friendship between Willa and Flor isn’t very developed.  Also the cover isn't appealing in the least.  The content includes a descriptive heavy make-out with partial nudity, underage drinking, crass expressions and underground fighting. 

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan - ADVISABLE

Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan, illustrated by Sarah Walsh.  112 pages.  NON-FICTION  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018.  $20. 

Content: Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Fifty women from around the world and throughout history are represented in this anthology.  The women are organized into five different categories, including leaders, artists, healers, scientists and those who inspire us by overcoming hardship.  I enjoyed each page spread as it explains their contribution as well as the major events in their life.  The illustrations are the best part and are mixed with photographs when available.  

As far as anthologies go, this is well done.  It is attractive and encompasses a lot of women that are sometimes overlooked.  That said, it’s large and bulky and I’m unsure if kids will pick it up to read it for fun, but it would be great to use in the classroom.  The content is in no way gratuitously graphic, but does include the mention of child brides, a baby being murdered and a young girl being sexually assaulted.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson